Photo: RIA Novosti
During the Cold War period Himalayan and American Black bears were used by the US Air Force in testing of the pilot ejection system of a supersonic jet. The animals underwent anaesthesia before the flights, and were ejected at various speeds and altitudes. In a US Air Force video posted on YouTube a bear is seen unbuckled from an ejector seat of a capsule, his jaws tied. The animal was one of the six bears American scientists used in tests of the four-engined B-58 Hustler – a supersonic jet bomber that could flow at Mach 2 - twice the speed of sound – in 1961. According to the
National Academy of Sciences National Research Council, which conducted the tests, none of the bears received any internal injuries and no spinal fractures occurred on any test.” "One American Black bear was discovered on autopsy to have a laceration of the liver which was attributed partially to an overdose of anaesthesia,” it added. The jet carried a nuclear weapon and was intended to fight against Soviet fighters in case of a nuclear war. “On one hand, using bears for these tests was an extremely practical solution to the problem,” science writer Ed Grabianowski shares his opinion. On the other hand, it’s hard not to cringe when you imagine the terror and confusion these animals experienced.” "Luckily, the testing programme didn’t last very long.” The Mirror, Source: Voice of Russia
National Academy of Sciences National Research Council, which conducted the tests, none of the bears received any internal injuries and no spinal fractures occurred on any test.” "One American Black bear was discovered on autopsy to have a laceration of the liver which was attributed partially to an overdose of anaesthesia,” it added. The jet carried a nuclear weapon and was intended to fight against Soviet fighters in case of a nuclear war. “On one hand, using bears for these tests was an extremely practical solution to the problem,” science writer Ed Grabianowski shares his opinion. On the other hand, it’s hard not to cringe when you imagine the terror and confusion these animals experienced.” "Luckily, the testing programme didn’t last very long.” The Mirror, Source: Voice of Russia
